Combined stocking supporter and blouse holder



Spt. 2, 1952 E. BERG 2,608,692;

COMBINED STOCKING SUPPORTER AND BLOUSE HOLDER Filed NOV. 5, 1947 l Patented Sept. 2, 1952 N UNITED STATES l coMiNEn 'rocKlNG SUPPRTER AND BLoUsE Hotline e Elaine Berg, Chicago, lll.

' `The present invention relates to supporter as# seinblies for supporting lstockings `and holding 'down shirts and blouses, fand i's particularly concerned with an improved commercial form of the supporter assembly covered by my prior application, Serial No. 729,848, filed February 20,1947, now abandoned. l

On'e ofthe .objects of 'theinventionis the pro- 'vision of an improved device'which is simple in construction, capable 'of economical manufacture, and adapted tobe usedr not only to hold down the shirt or blouseof the wearer, butalso to support 'the stockings.

While there are many devices on the market for use in holding down a ladys blouse, practically' none of them is efficient or successful, as mo'st of them with which I am familiar are bulky landuncomfortable; and the devices of the prior art are generally mounted on the skirt or added tothe waistline, vthereby increasing the size of the waistline 'of the ,wearer without securing the desired result.

Another object of the invention is the` provil sion of an improved garment assembly, by means `of which garter belts may be eliminated in the case `of alady; and in any event,lthe usual circulation-constricting garters, which encircle `the leg, mayalso be eliminated. y t y `lrlother object of the invention is the provif sion of -an improved device which is adapted to holddown-'aiblouse or shirt and to support stockings; which does 'not restrict the circulation of the wearer; which is comfortable to wear; and Vvvhicshdoes not restrict the movements `of the wearer or Vadd to the bulkof hisor her garments, s'o `that-the stockings may be properly supported Iand `vshirt or blouse held down against creeping louto'f `the belt. wthoutany of the disadvantages which are present in thedevices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the class described, which is "adapted to be sold as a unit, and which is applicable to all kinds of stockings and shirts andblouseaiandwhich is easily Lattachable and 1`'detachabl'e,lso that the purchaser may wear any iiuniberof the devices which he or she 'pleases or "which are considered necessary for effective support, andso that users may utilize the benets of fthe invention at a minimum cost by` cutting down "on the number of 'units employed.

Astill further object of the invention is the "provision of an improved device ofthe class described which is more simple than the devices of `the prior art,\and which is more flat, sothat it does l,not causeany substantial bulgeor disgurevti'cularlynoticeable and unsuitable because `of their bulging characteristics.

,Anotherobject is to reduce thenumber of parts.

and to reduce the amount of labor in assembling them vby so constructing the device that the same stitching secures a plurality of parts ltoigether at the same time, thus saving both 'inaterialand labor, and reducing the cost to the purchaser. Other objects andv advantages of the invert-- tionwill be apparent from `the following de scription and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of `reference vindicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevationalviewshowing the torso of a wearer, in dotted lines, and illustrating the application of a plurality of the present devices to the support of the stockings and for thev retention of a blouse of a lady;V

Fig. 2 is a half size fragmentary elevational view of the assembly of a single unit with V"a blouse andstocking shown in dottedwlines, using my improved-fastener at `both ends of the *device;

Figi 3 is `a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a modication` in which the garter fastener Aof the prior art is employed onthe lower 'endof the device, as such garter fasteners can be purchased as finished units on the market; and flatness is "not so important at the lower end of the device;

- embodiment;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the l'button. Referring to Fig. 2, one of the devices embodying the invention is indicated in its entirety by `the number I0; and each such device preferably consists of an elongated strip of elastic fabric Il, provided at each end with an Vimprovedsecuring device or fastener of `my improved `construction, I2, I3, adapted to be secured to stockings or to a blouse, without tending to tear the fabric, and without producing any substantial bulge under the clothing of the wearer.

The elastic fabric II preferably consists of a multiplicity of strands of longitudinally extending rubber which are surrounded by a knit fabric which is capable of stretching longitudinally when the' rubber stretches, but which also has a limit beyond which the fabric will stretch no farther. Thus the elastic member II may be drawn taut to a point where it will stretch no farther; but may also have the elasticity which tends to take up any looseness which may occur thereafter.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

of Fig. 2, the two fasteners I2 and I3 are identical in construction; but yare secured to the elastic strip II in a different way, to provide for adjustability in length of the strip I I.

For example, the assembly at the upper end, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, may include only five parts, of which the elastic strip I I` is one; and the others are the button I4, the tape loop I supporting the button or disc I4, the slot member I6, and the stitching I1.

The button I4 may be made of metal or nonmetallic material, such as a moldable plastic; and it is preferably quite large, quite fiat, and very thin. Instead of the usual four holes, the button is provided with a pair of parallel apertures I 8, I9, which are long enough to receive the tape I5 without wrinkling, and preferably quite narrow, being only wide enough for con- -Venient insertion of the tape.

The tape I5 is passed successively through the slots I8, I9, entering at the back of the button, and emerging also from its back, the two ends of the tape loop beingequalized and brought together. The end of the elastic strip II is passed through the slot member IB, and folded back upon itself.

` One or 'more lines of stitching I1 are then used to secure the end of the elastic fabric II into aloop 20 and to secure the tape loop I5 tothe elastic fabric strip II, with the button I4 extending in the same direction as the rigid endless loop I6 and preferably located midway of the member I6.

The slot member I6 may be made of a metal stamping or molded of a suitable initially plastic composition. This member has a Vslot or elongated aperture which is wide enough to pass the button I4 and its tape I5, when covered with fabric, such as the blouse 2l or stocking 22. It is also long enough to pass the fabric 2I or 22 andthe button edgewise. Thus, when the button is turned to a position parallel to the slot mem,- ber IS, the button spans the long sides 23, 24 of the slot member IS, toward which it is drawn by the tape I5.

In order to provide for adjustability in the length of the device I0, for long or short'stockings, long or short shirt tails, or for tall or short persons, the lower fastener I 3 is preferably secured to the elastic strip II by means of an adjustable loop of elastic 25, which is formed by folding the elastic strip II backward upon itself at 26.

The free end 21 of this adjustable loop portion 25 may be secured to the central leg 28 of a 'friction slider 29, which has a pair of elongated slots for the elastic strip II, indicated at 30, 3|. The elastic strip I I passes in at the bottom of slot v30, over leg 28, and backward through slot 3I.

Then the elastic strip II passes through a slot in the rigid loop 40 and has its end secured to the central leg 28 in any suitable manner. The bends in the elastic strip II, as it passes through the slider 29, cause the slider 29 to be held frictionally in any adjusted position.

Thus the length of the loop portion 25 of the elastic strip II may be adjusted by sliding the slider 29 upward or downward; and the overall length of the device I0 may thus be adjusted to suit the wearer. In other embodiments of the invention the friction slider may be replaced by the standard garter adjuster 32, shown in Fig. 3, and consisting of a sheet metal body 33 embracing the elastic strip I I and having a pivoted toothed member 34, which clamps the elastic strip I I invarious adjusted positions.

Instead of being secured directly to the elastic strip II, the lower fastener I3 is secured to an intermediate double loop member 35 (Fig. 6).

, This double loop member 35 is formed ofV a strip of tape fabric, beginning at the end 36, which extends downward and is folded back on itself at 31, forming a lower loop for a secondl slot member 38, similar to the slot member I6, previously described.

The tape of the double loop 35 passes through the slot member 38, and thence extends upward, past the end 35 to the point 39, where it'is bent downward again to form an upper loop 39. A closed chain link 40 is provided, which may comprise a pair of parallel sides joined by curved end portions for permitting the adjustment loop 25 to slide while it is being adjusted in length. Link 4I) is adapted to receive the upper end'39 of the double fabric tape loop 35,' which is then bent downward until its end portion 4I overlaps the portions 36 and 42 of the tape. These are then secured together by a double line of stitching 43, which also secures the button loop'I5 "to the double loop 35. The button loop I5 again passes through the slot member 38 and carries the button 44.

Referring to Fig. 3, this is a modification Vin which the standard type of garter fastener is used on the bottom end.

Such a garter fastener may be assembled with parts purchased on the open market, including a base member 46,'carrying a rubber covered head 41, and engageable with a wire loop 48 having` a narrow. end portion-49 and an enlargement 50 for passing the head 41. This type of fastener has the disadvantage that it is not flat enough Yto be invisible when used at theupper end; but

it is not so objectionable at the lower end, where the skirts are spaced from the limbs of the wearer.

In the preferredrform of the invention the flat fastener I2 or I 3 is used at both ends, thus reducingthe cost'of the assembly and making it practically invisible under all conditions.

The operation of the device is as follows: A generous portion of the fabric of the garment to which it is to be attached'is laid over the button.

VThe button is then turned edgewise and inserted with the fabric through the slot member I6; and then the button and fabric are turned so that the button is parallel to the slot member ls. when the strip II and the fabric of the garment are pulled taut, the garment fabric snubs about the button and is held tightly without danger of tearing. It will be evident that the lengthof the device may be so adjusted that it will hold. the blouse down, while holding the stockings up.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modications may a second strip of fabric bent back upon itself to form a loop, both of said loops being secured to each other by the same line of stitching passing through both strips, a thin, fiat, slot member carried by the first-mentioned loop, and a thin, fiat disc carried by the second-mentioned loop, said thin, flat disc having a pair of parallel apertures for receiving said second loop, and said slot member having a slot with parallel sides spaced suf- 4 ciently to pass the disc when covered with the fabric of said garment, and said slot member having its slot provided with curved ends spaced from each other sufliciently to pass the disc when covered with the fabric.

2. A supporter assembly comprising an elongated strip of elastic fabric and a fiat fastener assembly carried by one end of said fabric, said fastener assembly comprising a thin. flat disc having a pair of apertures, a strip of fabric forming a loop passing through said slots and bent to bring its ends together, and including a thin, flat, slot member having a slot with parallel sides and rounded ends secured by a loop in said end of said elastic fabric, the said loops being secured together in such position that the disc and slot member overlap each other.

3. A supporter assembly comprising a strip of fabric formed with a loop at each of its ends. said fabric being folded back upon itself and stitched together to form one of said loops, one of said loops passing through a thin, flat, rigid slot member, a second fabric strip having its ends secured together and forming a third loop and secured vto one of the first-mentioned fabric loops by the same line of stitching, said third fabric loop passing through a pair of apertures of a thin. at, circular disc, the said disc being of sufcient size to be passed through the first-mentioned slot member when the disc is arranged edgewise with respect to the slot member, but the disc spanning and engaging the sides of the slot members when the disc is parallel to the slot member.

4. In a supporter assembly for supporting ystockings and holding down shirts or the like,

e i y the combination of a strip of elastic material with a garter fastener secured to its lower end for engagement with a stocking, a thin, flat, circular disc having a pair of apertures, a strip of tape fastened through said apertures and being formed into a loop and having its ends stitched adjacent to the upper end of the elastic strip,

said elastic strip also having a loop formed in its end adjacent to said disc by bending the strip upon itself and securing the overlapping 'parts by stitching, and said latter loop supporting a thin, flat, rigid slot member'of suilicient length to pass said disc, and of sufficient width to pass said disc but of such shape that the disc will engage flatly against said rigid slot member when it has been passed through the latter and is drawn in position by its tape.

5. A supporter assembly comprising a strip of fabric formed with a loop at each of its ends, said fabric being. folded back upon itself and stitched together to form said loops, one of said loops passing through a thin, at, slot member, a second fabric strip having its ends secured together and forming a third loop and secured to one of the first-mentioned fabric loops by the same line of stitching, said third fabric loop passing through two apertures of a thin, flat, circular disc, the said disc being of suicient size to be passed through the first-mentioned slot member when the disc is arranged edgewise with respect to the slot member, but the disc spanning and engaging the sides of the slot member i when the disc is parallel to the slot member, the

first-mentioned fabric strip passing through a i friction slider, and a rigid, oval, closed link and having its end attached to the center bar of the friction slider to form the other of said first-- mentioned loops, thus providing an adjustable loop for varying the length of said strip.

ELAINE BERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,954,768 Krakauer Apr. 10, 1934 i 2,107,453 Stuart Feb. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 362,360 France June 21, 1906 777,571 France Feb. 23, 1935 

